Status review of Arabis fecunda, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Region 1, Beaverhead National Forest

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STATUS REVIEW OF Arabls fecunda
U.S.D.A. FOREST SERVICE - REGION 1
BEAVERHEAD NATIONAL FOREST
MONTANA

Prepared by:

Lisa Ann Schassberger , Botanist
Montana Natural Heritage Program
State Library Building
1515 E. 6th Avenue
Helena, MT 59620

1989 Challenge Cost-share Project

January 1990

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

I . SPECIES INFORMATION

A. CLASSIFICATION . 1

B. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS . 1

C. DESCRIPTION . 2

D. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION . 3

E. HABITAT . 6

F. POPULATION DEMOGRAPHY AND BIOLOGY . 8

G. POPULATION ECOLOGY . 11

H. LAND OWNERSHIP . 11

II. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

A. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS . 12

B. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSE . 13

C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS. . 13

D. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT . 14

E. SUMMARY . 14

III. LITERATURE CITED . 15

IV. ELEMENT OCCURRENCE PRINT-OUTS AND MAPS . 17

V. PHOTOGRAPHS . 39

APPENDIX A . .

i

I . SPECIES INFORMATION

A. CLASSIFICATION

1. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Arabis fecunda Rollins.

2. COMMON NAME: Sapphire rockcress.

3. FAMILY: Brassicaceae (=Cruciferae, mustard
family) .

4. GENUS: According to Hitchcock ^ a^. (1964),

there are over one hundred species of Arabis in
the Northern Hemisphere. In Montana, there are 12
known species (Dorn 1984, Rollins 1984) .

5. SPECIES: Arabis fecunda was first collected in
1975 by Jaculyn Cory along the lower western
flanks of the Sapphire Mountains. This specimen
was subsequently determined to represent a new
species (Rollins, 1984) . Arabis fecunda is
endemic to Montana; all of the currently known
locations for this species occur on distinctive,
highly metamorphosed, calc-silicate soils. These
locations are within a 45-mile radius of one
another.

B. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS

1 . FEDERAL STATUS

a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: Arabis

fecunda is currently included in Category 2
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Notice
of Review (U.S. Department of Interior 1985) ,
under consideration for federal listing as a
threatened taxon. Category 2 taxa (= federal
candidate taxa) are those "...for which
information now in possession of the Service
indicates that proposing to list them as
endangered or threatened species is possibly
appropriate, but for which substantial data
on biological vulnerability and threat (s) are
not currently known or on file to support the
immediate preparation of rules."

b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: Arabis fecunda is
currently included on the Watch list in
Region 1 (Northern Region) of the U.S. Forest
Service. Watch plants include those species,
subspecies or varieties that are not
currently known to occur on National Forest

1

2

land, but which are suspected to occur on
such lands owing to the presence of suitable
habitat. Also, these are plants for which
there is concern for population viability
within a given state. If found on National
Forest lands, these taxa would be designated
as sensitive (U.S. Department of Agriculture
1988) . Since the establishment of list, A.
fecunda was confirmed from 5 locations on the
Beaverhead National Forest. Thus, the status
should be changed to sensitive on the U.S.
Forest Service list.

2. STATE: Arabis fecunda is currently listed by the
Montana Natural Heritage Program (Shelly 1989) as
"imperiled in Montana because of rarity" (state
rank = S2 (6-20 occurrences)).

This rank does not currently provide any direct
legal protection for the species.

C. DESCRIPTION

1. GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Arabis fecunda
is a small, perennial forb, with one to many
clusters of basal leaves, and flowering stems that
reach 3-12 inches in height. The spatula-shaped
basal leaves generally have a smooth margin, and
are 1/2-1 inch in length, and 1/8 inch wide. The
leaves on the flowering stem are smaller and clasp
the stem. A vestiture of dense forked hairs cover
the stems and leaves. Inflorescences are
congested with flowers, each made up of four white
petals 1/4-1/2 inch long, and about 1/8 inch wide.
The nearly erect pedicels may be up to 1/2 inch
long, and bear fruits 1-2 inches long, and about
1/20 inch wide. The fruits are densely hairy, and
each side of the fruit contains a single row of
round seeds (adapted from Lesica 1985) .

2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Perennial with a simple or
branched caudex, densely pubescent throughout,
with fine dendritically-branched trichomes; stems
erect to somewhat decumbent at base, simple or few
branched, 1-3 dm. high; leaves hoary, dimorphic;
basal leaves petiolate, spatulate to linear
oblanceolate, entire or with a few broad teeth in
the blade area, 1-3 cm. long, 2-4 mm. wide;
cauline leaves sessile, entire or the lower with a
few teeth, oblong, acute, sparingly auriculate to
nonauriculate, 7-20 mm. long; inflorescences
usually congested; sepals oblong, nonsaccate.

3

densely pubescent, 6-7 mm. long, ca. 2 mm. wide;
petals white to purplish, obovate, not
unguiculate, narrowing gradually from blade to
point of insertion, 9-13 mm. long, 3-5 mm. wide;
fruiting pedicels erect to slightly divaricately
ascending, straight, 6-10 mm. long; siliques
erect, congested, usually appressed to rachis,
straight to slightly curved inward, 3-5 cm. long,
ca. 1.5 mm. wide, valves densely pubescent,
compressed between seeds; styles ca. 1 mm. long;
seeds in a single row, suborbicular to slightly
longer than broad, narrowly wing-margined all
around, ca. 1.2 mm. in diameter, mucilaginous when
wetted; cotyledons accumbent (adapted from Rollins
1984) .

3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: The very erect fruits,

and the dense greyish vestiture of branched hairs
on the foliage and fruit, distinguish A. fecunda
from all other Arabis species found in western
Montana (Lesica 1985) .

D. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

1. RANGE: All 13 of the currently known populations
of A. fecunda occur in southwestern Montana.

There are four locations for A. fecunda along the
western flanks of the Sapphire Mountains east of
Hamilton, Ravalli County, Montana. Nine
additional locations were recently documented (8
in 1988, 1 in 1989) from small drainages on the
north and east flanks of the East Pioneer
Mountains: Jerry Creek, Quartz Hill Gulch, Canyon

Creek, Cattle Gulch, and Birch Creek.

The global distribution for this species is shown
on Map 1, p. 4. The exact locations are shown on
the maps in Section IV, pp. 31-38. The
populations occur in Beaverhead (7), Ravalli (4),
and Silver Bow (2) counties, Montana.

2. CURRENT SITES: In 1988 and 1989, field surveys of
southwestern Montana revealed nine new populations
of A. fecunda. This brings the total number of
currently documented populations to 13. Five of
the populations occur on lands that are partially
or wholly privately owned, six are on lands
managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and three are
partially or wholly on lands managed by the Bureau
of Land Management and/or State of Montana. The
legal descriptions, elevations, USGS topographic
map names, and locations of sites in Montana are

4

Figure 3. Global distribution of Arabis fecunda, Montana.

5

provided in Section IV, pp. 18-30. Also, the
exact locations are indicated on the maps provided
in Section IV, pp. 31-38.

Recent surveys for A. fecunda include;

Peter Lesica - The Nature Conservancy: May 1985.

J. Stephen Shelly - Montana Natural Heritage
Program: 1-3 June 1988, 6-9 June 1989.

Lisa Ann Schassberger - Montana Natural Heritage
Program: 1-3, 6-7, 13-15 June 1988,

6-9 June 1989.

3. HISTORICAL SITES; None.

4. UNVERIPIED/UNDOCUMENTED REPORTS; None.

5. AREAS SURVEYED BUT SPECIES NOT LOCATED; The
following areas in Beaverhead County were searched
in 1989, but no additional populations of Arabis
fecunda were located. The actual areas surveyed
were often smaller than the portions of the
sections indicated. The list is organized by
township, range and section number, and all sites
are on Beaverhead National Forest land unless
marked otherwise.

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6

E. HABITAT: The sites where populations of A.
fecunda occur are distinguished by sandy or
gravelly, light-colored, highly calcareous soils,
derived from metamorphosed calc-silicate parent
materials. These sites are found along small to
large drainages at the edges of mountain uplifts,
where these parent materials have been exposed by
erosion.

Arabis fecunda populations occur in the sagebrush-
grassland zone at locations in Ravalli, Silver Bow
and Beaverhead counties. Additionally, some
populations in Beaverhead County occur in dry
Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine forest zones on
open calcareous slopes. The sites range from
4,600 to 8,000 feet in elevation. Total
vegetation cover at these sites is often low.

1. ASSOCIATED VEGETATION; Arabis fecunda

populations occur most frequently in shrub- and
grasslands, often near open, sparse stands of
Plnus ponderosa (ponderosa pine) , Pseudotsuaa
menziesii (Douglas-fir) , or Junioerus scopulorum
(Rocky Mountain juniper) . The common native
species associated with A. fecunda at one or more
sites include:

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Aqropvron spicatum (bluebunch wheatgrass)

Artemisia friqida (fringed sagewort)

Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush)

Astragalus miser (weedy milk-vetch)

Carex f ilifolia (thread-leaved sedge)

Castilleia pallescens (palish indian-paintbrush)
Cercocarpus ledifolius (curley-leaf mountain
mahogany)

Chrvsopsis villosa (hairy goldenaster)

Crepis spp. (hawksbeard)

Crvptantha celosioides (northern cryptantha)

Draba oliqosperma (few-seeded draba)

Eriqeron compositus (cut-leaved daisy)

Erioqonum umbel latum (sulphur buckwheat)

Festuca idahoensls (Idaho fescue)

Gilia spicata (spicate gilia)

Haplopappus acaulis (cushion goldenweed)
Haplopappus armerioides (thrifty goldenweed)
Koeleria cristata (Junegrass)

Linum perenne (blue flax)

Lithospermum ruderale (wayside gromwell)

Mertensia oblonqifolia (oblongleaf bluebells)
Orvzopsis hvmenoides (Indian ricegrass)

Oxvtropis laqopus (haresfoot locoweed)

7

Penstemon aridus (stiff-leaved penstemon)

Phlox brvoides (moss phlox)

Phlox lonoifolia (long-leaved phlox)

Phvsaria oeveri (Geyer's twinpod)

Poa secunda (Sandberg's bluegrass)

Sedum lanceolatum (lance-leaved stonecrop)

Senecio canus (woolly groundsel)

Taraxacum officinale (common dandelion)

Tetradvmia canescens (gray horsebrush)

Townsend i a hookeri (Hooker's townsendia)

Additionally, sites on private land, Bureau of
Land Management, and on State of Montana lands
have been invaded by weedy introduced species,
including Centaurea maculosa . Alvssum alvssoides .
and Bromus tectprum.

2. TOPOGRAPHY: All known populations of Arabis
fecunda are located on well-drained, lower to
upper slopes or ridgelines, at elevations from
4,600 to 8,000 feet. Slope angles range from 10-
40 percent. This species has also been found
growing in small amounts of loose soil, atop rocky
calcareous outcrops.

3. SOIL RELATIONSHIPS: The four A. fecunda sites
that occur along the west slope of the Sapphire
Mountains occur on a calc-silicate unit of the
Wallace Formation, and are just south of a large
granitic intrusion, the Willow Creek Stock
(Presley 1971) .

The A. fecunda sites along the flanks of and in
the East Pioneer Mountains occur on the upper part
of the Madison Limestone Formation, comprised of
metamorphosed limestone and sandstones, and on the
Threeforks Formation, comprised of grayish-brown
argillaceous limestone (Richards and Pardee 1925) .
These substrates appear similar to those occupied
by populations along the Sapphire Mountains.

The distinctiveness of the soils indicates that
they are a factor in the distribution of A.
fecunda populations.

On a microsite level, A. fecunda may be associated
with cryptogamic soil crusts. Results of a study
at Charleys Gulch (001) and Birch Creek (004) in
Ravalli County are included in Schassberger
(1988) .

4. REGIONAL CLIMATE: The regional climate of
southwestern Montana is characterized by hot dry

summers, and cold, snowy winters. The highest
amounts of precipitation come in the form of rain
in spring.

The weather collection site at Hamilton is
approximately 5 miles west, and 1000 feet lower
than the 4 populations located along the flanks of
the Sapphire Mountains. For the period from 1951-
1980, the July mean temperature was 67.0° F, the
January mean was 25.0° F, and the mean annual
precipitation was 13.11 inches. The long-term
weather station nearest to the populations in the
East Pioneer Mountains is at Divide. This station
is approximately 3.5-20 miles distant from the A.
fecunda sites, and at an elevation of 5,395 feet.
This is up to 2,500 feet lower than some of the A.
fecunda sites. At Divide, the July mean
temperature was 63.3 °F, the January mean was 19.1
°F, and the average annual precipitation was 12.39
inches (U.S. Department of Commerce 1982) .

POPULATION DEMOGRAPHY AND BIOLOGY

1. PHENOLOGY: The phenology of the A. fecunda
populations is variable due to the wide range in
elevations at which they are found (4,600 - 8,000
feet) , and differences in their topographical
position. At lower elevation sites or sites with
a more southern aspect, or in dryer habitats, A.
fecunda begins to flower in early May. Mature
fruit is present from late May-June on (Lesica
1985) . At higher elevations, or on sites with a
more northern or western exposure, flowering and
fruiting may extend into early July.

2. POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: Populations of A.
fecunda range in size from 75 to 10,000 plants
with an average size of about 1,000. Most of the
populations along the flanks of the Pioneer
Mountains are in good condition. However, the A.
fecunda populations along the flanks of the
Sapphire Mountains have been invaded by various
introduced species. Interspecific competition
with Centaurea maculosa is of primary concern at
these locations. Transects were established at
Charleys Gulch (001) and Birch Creek (004) in
Ravalli County, to gather information on life
history and population trends for A. fecunda .
Reports from an ongoing study of the interactions
between these two species is contained in
Schassberger (1988, 1990). The effects of
Centaurea maculosa invasion on the fecundity of A.

fecunda are also discussed in Hamilton and
Mitchell-Olds (1989).

Transects were also established in 1989 at two
locations on the Beaverhead National Forest
(Slides, p. 10) . Preliminary data indicate that
fecundity, measured as number of plants fruiting,
percent of plants fruiting, number of fruits per
fruiting plant, and number of fruits per
inflorescence, was lower (in 1989) at Lime Gulch
(012) than at Canyon Creek (013) . However, the
Lime Gulch population is approximately 1,000 feet
lower in elevation than Canyon Creek (011) , and is
located on the lower eastern flanks of the Pioneer
Mountains in the rain shadow of some of the
highest peaks of the range. Thus, it is likely to
receive substantially less precipitation and have
warmer temperatures than the Canyon Creek
population. This in turn influences the phenology
and possibly the fecundity of the populations.

The data indicate that there needs to be at least
a one to two week delay in reading the Canyon
Creek transects, in order to obtain data
comparable to Lime Gulch. The report on this study
is found in Appendix A, p. 45.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

a. TYPE OP REPRODUCTION: Arabis fecunda is a
perennial species that reproduces only by
seed. Individual plants continue to grow
larger each year through branching and
enlargement of the caudex. Early bloom dates
may indicate that A. fecunda is facultatively
autogamous (Lesica 1985) .

b. POLLINATION BIOLOGY: The mechanisms of
pollination are unknown for this species;
however, it may be through selfing and/or by
insects.

c. SEED DISPERSAL AND BIOLOGY: Flowers and
fruits mature acropetally, developing from
the base of the plant to the apex. The often
numerous fruits mature quite quickly.

Although not directly observed, dispersal of
seed is probably similar to that of other
species of Arabis. Valves of the siliques
open from the tip downwards, which expose the
seeds that then drop, or are shaken to the
ground (Lesica 1985) .

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Siliques were often observed to have been
grazed, apparently by small mammals. This
may aid in seed dispersal; however, it also
may lower fecundity.

G. POPULATION ECOLOGY

1 . BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS

a. COMPETITION: Most populations of A. fecunda
are too dispersed across the landscape for
intraspecific competition to be a factor.
However, interspecific competition between A.
fecunda and Centaurea maculosa is considered
to be a major threat to the four populations
along the flanks of the Sapphire Mountains.
Reports from an ongoing study of the
interactions between these two species at
these locations is contained in Schassberger
(1988, 1990). See also Hamilton and
Mitchell-Olds (1989) .

b. HERBIVORY: Although A. fecunda does not
appear to be preferred by cattle, several
sites were heavily disturbed by the trampling
associated with grazing, and recently
extirpated plants were observed.

Small mammals apparently graze on siliques;
unless this is excessive, it is probably not
detrimental to populations.

H. LAND OWNERSHIP

1. The land ownership for the 13 occurrences

currently known in Montana is given below; several
of the sites occur in areas of mixed ownership
that include private. Bureau of Land Management,
and State of Montana lands. The exact locations
are provided in Sect. IV, pp. 17-38.

a. U.S.D.A. Forest Service:

i. Beaverhead National Forest
Wise River Ranger District:

Quartz Hill (005)

Mouth of Quartz Hill Gulch (006) -portion
Upper Quartz Hill Gulch (008)

Canyon Creek (Oil)

Cattle Gulch (013)

Dillon Ranger District

Lime Gulch (012)

12

b. U.S.D.I. Bureau of Land Management:

i. Butte District Office, Headwaters
Resource Area:

Mouth of Quartz Hill Gulch (006) -portion
Jerry Creek (007) -portion
Spring Gulch II (009)

Wise River (010) -portion

c. State of Montana:

i. Department of State Lands:

Charleys Gulch (001) -portion
Birch Creek Bluffs (004) -portion
Jerry Creek (007) -portion

d. Private ownership:

Charleys Gulch (001) -portion
Spring Gulch I (002)

Rock Quarry Gulch (003)

Birch Creek Bluffs (004) -portion
Wise River (010) -portion

II. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

A. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS:

1. GRAZING: Arab is fecunda does not appear to be
preferred by domestic grazers. However, the Jerry
Creek population (007) , Silver Bow County, and the
Birch Creek (004) and Charleys Gulch (001)
populations, Ravalli County, have been impacted by
the trampling associated with grazing.

2. MINING: A subpopulation of A. fecunda plants at
the intersection of Highway 43 and Quartz Hill
Gulch (site = The Mouth of Quartz Hill Gulch
(006), BLM managed land) is threatened by gravel
removal from the base of the hill.

Subpopulations of Upper Quartz Hill Gulch (008)
are near areas where mining has occurred in the
past. This population could be impacted, should
mining activities resume in the future.

13

3. TIMBER HARVESTING: No known threats.

4. WEED CONTROL ACTIVITIES: The Mouth of Quartz Hill
Gulch (006) , Jerry Creek (007) , Wise River (010) ,
Canyon Creek (011), Lime Gulch (012), and Cattle
Gulch (013) are populations that are close to
roads on public lands, and are potentially
threatened by herbicide spray programs.

The Bureau of Land Management, Butte District,

Weed Control Department requested and received
locationJ information on the A. fecunda sites that
occur on their lands including Mouth of Quartz
Hill (006), Jerry Creek (007), Spring Gulch II
(009) and Wise River (010) .

B. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSE: From field
observations, A. fecunda plants do not respond well to
strong disturbances such as gravel removal, or
trampling by livestock. Ongoing monitoring studies may
reveal a relationship between A. fecunda and
undisturbed cryptogamic soil crusts (Schassberger
1988) .

C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS:

The following recommendations are made to insure that
the long-term viability of Arabis fecunda populations
on U.S. Forest Service lands in Montana is maintained:

1 . Protection of natural habitats that currently
support populations. Populations that occur
wholly on U.S. Forest Service lands should be
considered in any habitat alteration or changes in
management proposed on lands in their vicinity.

If disturbance is proposed within or near the
populations, detailed surveys should be conducted,
and mitigation measures developed, to reduce or
eliminate project impacts. Road improvement could
impact the Canyon Creek (011) population, while an
increase in mining activity would negatively
affect the subpopulations at the Upper Quartz Hill
Gulch (008) site. Changes in grazing systems
would be important in all cases.

2 . Notification of weed control and road maintenance
crews, range conservationists, and all other
appropriate U.S. Forest Service personnel, of
population locations. Maps detailing locations of
populations should be provided to all personnel
concerned with these activities, to reduce or
eliminate unnecessary impacts to populations.

14

D. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT:

1 • Further field surveys of potential habitats in
southwestern Montana. Much of the suitable
habitat for A. fecunda in southwestern Montana has
been surveyed. It is possible that there are more
locations for this species on the Beaverhead
National Forest; however, surveys in 1986, 1987,
1988 and 1989, covered much of the potential
habitat.

2 . Monitoring studies on U.S. Forest Service lands.
Permanent belt transects, using the methods of
Lesica (1987) , are currently established at two
locations on private lands in Ravalli County
(Charleys Gulch (001) and Birch Creek (004)), and
at two locations on Beaverhead National Forest
lands (Lime Gulch (012) and Canyon Creek (011)).
These transects should continue to be monitored,
as they will provide important information on the
life history and ecology of A. fecunda .

E . SUMMARY

Arabis fecunda is a recently described species
(Rollins 1984) in the Mustard family. Four years
of extensive searching have revealed only 13
locations for this species, all of which occur in
southwestern Montana (Ravalli (4) , Beaverhead (7) ,
and Silver Bow (2) counties) . Knapweed invasion
threatens the four locations in Ravalli County,
while grazing activities may threaten the two
populations in Silver Bow County.

Region 1 (Northern Region) of the U.S. Forest
currently lists A. fecunda as a Watch List
species. With the newly discovered (1988, 1989)
locations for this species on the Beaverhead
National Forest, the status of A. fecunda should
be changed to Sensitive in Region 1. Due to the
limited distribution of Arabis fecunda, it is
important to take the areas that contain
populations into consideration when planning land
use activities that may affect these populations.

Ongoing studies of the life history of A. fecunda
should provide useful information pertaining to
the management of this rare species.

15

III. LITERATURE CITED

Dorn, R.D. 1984. Vascular Plants of Montana. Mountain West
Publishing. Cheyenne, Wyoming. 276 pp.

Hamilton, M.B. and T. Mitchell-Olds. 1989. Population biology
of Arabis f ecunda . a rare endemic. 1. Directional selection
and interspecific competition. Evolution (In review) .

Hitchcock, C.L., A. Cronquist, M. Owenby and J.W. Thompson.

1964. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest, Part 2.
University of Washington Press, Seattle, Washington.

597 pp.

Lesica, P. 1985. Report on the conservation status of Arabis

f ecunda, a potential candidate species. Unpublished report
to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Denver, Colorado.

17 pp.

Lesica, P. 1987. A technique for monitoring nonrhizomatous,
perennial plant species in permanent belt transects.

Natural Areas Journal 7: 65-68.

Presley, M.W. 1971. Igneous and metamorphic geology of the
Willow Creek drainage basin, southern Sapphire Mountains,
Montana. M.S. thesis. Department of Geology, University of
Montana. Missoula, Montana.

Richards, R.W. and J.T. Pardee. 1925. The Melrose Phosphate
Field, Montana. U.S.G.S. Bull. 780: 1-32.

Rollins, R.C. 1984. Studies in the Cruciferae of western North
America II. Contr. Gray Herb. 214: 1-18.

Schassberger , L.A. 1988. Update to the report on the

conservation status of Arabis f ecunda . a candidate
threatened species. Unpublished report to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. Denver, Colorado. 36 pp.

Schassberger, L.A. 1990. Update to the report on the

conservation status of Arabis f ecunda. a candidate
threatened species. Unpublished report to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. Denver, Colorado.

Shelly, J.S. 1989. Plant species of special concern. Montana

Natural Heritage Program. Helena, Montana. 22 pp. (mimeo) .

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 1988. Sensitive
Plant Field Guide to Montana. U.S. Forest Service, Northern
Region, Range, Air, Watershed, and Ecology Unit. Missoula,
Montana.

16

U.S. Department of Commerce. 1982. Monthly Normals of

Temperature, Precipitation, and Heating and Cooling Degree
Days 1951-80. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Climatography of the United States No. 81.

2 3 pp.

U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. 1985.
Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants: Review of
plant taxa for listing as endangered or threatened species.
Federal Register 45(242): 82481-82569.

17

IV. ELEMENT OCCURRENCE PRINT-OUTS AND MAPS

18

ARABIS FECUNDA
SAPPHIRE ROCKCRESS

Element occurrence code: PDBRA06290. 001

Global rank: G2 Forest Service status: WATCH LIST

State rank: S2

Survey site name: CHARLEYS GULCH
County: Ravalli

USGS quadrangle: CORVALLIS

WILLOW MOUNTAIN

Township-range: 006N019W Section: 20 W2, W2NE4

Township-range comments: Sec 19 S2; Sec 29 NW4 ; Sec 30 N2

Survey date: 1988-06-01 Elevation: 5000

First observation: 1975 Slope/aspect:

Last observation: 1988-06-01 Size (acres) : 700

Location: WEST SLOPE OF SAPPHIRE RANGE, ALONG CHARLEYS GULCH ROAD,

CA. 1. 1-2.1 MILES FROM JUNCTION WITH PAVED COUNTY ROAD; ALSO NORTH AND
SOUTH OF GULCH.

Element occurrence data:

CA. 8000-10000+ PLANTS, IN 13 SUBPOPULATIONS; EVIDENCE OF
DISTURBANCE BY CATTLE; WEED INVASION BY SPOTTED KNAPWEED
(CENTAUREA MACULOSA) A SERIOUS THREAT.

General site description:

ON STEEP, W- AND SW- FACING SLOPES, ON LIGHT-COLORED
CALCAREOUS OUTCROPS, IN SAGEBRUSH GRASSLAND WITH CHRYSOPSIS
VILLOSA, GILIA SPICATA, PHYSARIA GEYERI, AND ALYSSUM ALYSSOIDES.

Land owner/manager:

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

STATE LAND - UNDESIGNATED

Information source:

SHELLY, J.S. 1988. FIELD SURVEYS IN RAVALLI COUNTY OF 19-20
MAY, 1-3 JUNE.

Element Occurrence Record - Arabis fecunda
Montana Natural Heritage Program

ARABIS FECUNDA
SAPPHIRE ROCKCRESS

19

Element occurrence code; PDBRA06290. 002

Global rank: G2 Forest Service status: WATCH LIST

State rank: S2

Survey site name: SPRING GULCH I
County; Ravalli

USGS quadrangle; MOUNTAIN HOUSE

Township-range: 006N019W Section: 30 S2

Township-range comments: Sec 31 NE4NW4

Survey date: 1988-06-01 Elevation: 4740

First observation: 1985 Slope/aspect:

Last observation: 1988-06-01 Size (acres) : 160

Location:

SPRING GULCH, WEST SLOPE OF SAPPHIRE RANGE; AT JCT. OF HWYS .

269 & 380, 2.5 MI. E. TO WHERE 380 TURNS N. ; E. 1.5 MI. TO
CHARLEYS GULCH RD. , 2 MI. TO CATTLEGUARD ; SITES 1 MI . SW.

Element occurrence data:

CA. 1000-1500+ PLANTS, 4 SUBPOPULATIONS; EVIDENCE OF
DISTURBANCE BY CATTLE; SITES THREATENED BY WEEDY SPECIES
(ESP. CENTAUREA MACULOSA) ; REMOTE AREA.

General site description:

ON LIGHT-COLORED GRANITIC AND CALCAREOUS ROCK OUTCROPS, ON
STEEP, S-FACING SLOPES; SAGEBRUSH GRASSLAND WITH PINUS
PONDEROSA, HAPLOPAPPUS ARMERIOIDES, GILIA SPICATA AND CRYPTANTHA
sp.

Land owner/manager:

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

Information source:

SHELLY, J.S. 1988. FIELD SURVEYS IN RAVALLI COUNTY OF 19-20
MAY, 1-3 JUNE.

Element Occurrence Record - Arabis fecunda
Montana Natural Heritage Program

ARABIS FECUNDA
SAPPHIRE ROCKCRESS

Element occurrence code: PDBRA06290. 003

Global rank: G2 Forest Service status: WATCH LIST

State rank: S2

Survey site name: ROCK QUARRY GULCH
County: Ravalli

USGS quadrangle: MOUNTAIN HOUSE

Township-range: 006N019W Section: 31

Township-range comments: NW4SW4

Survey date:
First observation:
Last observation:

1988-06-01

1985

1988-06-01

Elevation: 4850

Slope/aspect :
Size (acres) : 5

Location:

ROCK QUARRY GULCH; FROM JCT. OF HWYS . 269 & 380, GO 2.5 MI.
E. TO CORNER WHERE 380 TURNS N. ; GO E. 1 . 5 MI . TO CHARLEYS
GULCH RD., & 2 MI. TO CATTLEGUARD; SITE IS 2 MILES SW.

Element occurrence data:

CA. 800-1000+ PLANTS, ONE POPULATION; EVIDENCE OF LIGHT
DISTURBANCE BY CATTLE; POPULATION THREATENED BY KNAPWEED
(CENTAUREA SP.) INVASION, BUT SITE NOT AS WEEDY AS OTHERS IN
AREA.

General site description:

ON LIGHT-COLORED ROCK OUTCROPS ON OPEN, S-FACING SLOPES; IN
SAGEBRUSH GRASSLAND NEAR LOWER TREELINE, W/ SCATTERED PINUS
PONDEROSA, AGROPYRON SPICATUM AND HAPLOPAPPUS ARMERIOIDES.

Land owner/manager:

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

Information source:

SHELLY, J.S. 1988. FIELD SURVEYS IN RAVALLI COUNTY OF 19-20
MAY, 1-3 JUNE.

Element Occurrence Record - Arabis fecunda
Montana Natural Heritage Program

ARABIS FECUNDA
SAPPHIRE ROCKCRESS

Element occurrence code: PDBRA06290. 004

Global rank: G2 Forest Service status: WATCH LIST

State rank: S2

Survey site name: BIRCH CREEK BLUFFS
County: Ravalli

USGS quadrangle: WILLOW MOUNTAIN

CORVALLIS

Township-range: 007N019W Section: 16 NW4

Township-range comments: Sec 17, Sec 18 NE4, Sec 20 NE4

Survey date: 1988-06-01 Elevation: 4700

First observation: 1986 Slope/aspect:

Last observation: 1988-06-01 Size (acres) : 200

Location:

WESTERN LOWER SLOPES OF SAPPHIRE MOUNTAINS, ALONG BIRCH
CREEK AND TRIBUTARY NW. OF SCHOOLHOUSE BUTTE, CA. 7 AIR
MILES ENE. OF CORVALLIS, MT.

Element occurrence data:

10,000+ INDIVIDUALS, CA. SIX SUBPOPULATIONS; SOME SLOPES ARE
TERRACED FROM LIVESTOCK GRAZING, AND WEEDS (CENTAUREA
MACULOSA, BROMUS TECTORUM, ALYSSUM) ARE ABUNDANT; ALSO WITH
AGROPYRON SPICATUM, OXYTROPIS BESSEYI, AND SENECIO CANUS.

General site description:

WHITE, HIGHLY CALCAREOUS, ERODING SLOPES OF METAMORPHOSED
CALC-SILICATES; WITH PINUS PONDEROSA, JUNIPERUS SCOPULORUM,
HAPLOPAPPUS ARMERIOIDES, LESQUERELLA ALPINA, AND POA SECUNDA.

Land owner/manager:

STATE LAND - UNDESIGNATED

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

Information source;

SHELLY, J.S. 1988. FIELD SURVEYS IN RAVALLI COUNTY OF 19-20
MAY, 1-3 JUNE.

Element Occurrence Record - Arabis fecunda
Montana Natural Heritage Program

22

ARABIS FECUNDA
SAPPHIRE ROCKCRESS

Element occurrence code: PDBRA06290. 005

Global rank; G2 Forest Service status: WATCH LIST

State rank: S2

Survey site name; QUARTZ HILL
County: Beaverhead

USGS quadrangle: VIPOND PARK

Township-range; OOlSOllW Section; 36
Township-range comments: CENTER

Survey date:
First observation:
Last observation:

1989-06-06

1986

1989-06-06

Elevation: 7960

Slope/aspect: 8-35%/ SW

Size (acres) : 5

Location;

PIONEER MOUNTAINS, ECHO GULCH, SOUTHWEST BASE OF QUARTZ
HILL, CA.5 AIR MILES SSW OF DEWEY, MT.

Element occurrence data:

CA. 375-500 PLANTS, MOST STERILE IN 1989; SOME LIGHT GRAZING
IN PAST, MINING IN NEARBY AREAS.

General site description:

ON OPEN, GRAVELLY CALCAREOUS SLOPE, IN PINUS CONTORTA ZONE
WITH DRABA OLIGOSPERMA, TOWNSENDIA PARRYI, ERIGERON '
COMPOSITUS, AND IVESIA GORDONII.

Land owner/manager:

BEAVERHEAD NATIONAL FOREST, WISE RIVER RANGER DISTRICT
Information source:

SHELLY, J.S. 1989. FIELD SURVEYS IN BEAVERHEAD COUNTY 5-9

TTTXTt? ^ ^

Element Occurrence Record • Arabis fecunda
Montana Natural Heritage Program

ARABIS FECUNDA
SAPPHIRE ROCKCRESS

Element occurrence code; PDBRA06290. 006

Global rank: G2 Forest Service status: WATCH LIST

State rank: S2

Survey site name; MOUTH OF QUARTZ HILL GULCH
County; Beaverhead

USGS quadrangle: DEWEY

Township-range; OOlSOlOW Section: 08 E2
Township-range comments: Sec 5 SE4; Sec 17 NE4

Survey date: 1988-06-06 Elevation: 5780

First observation; 1988 Slope/aspect;

Last observation: 1988-06-13 Size (acres) : 100

Location:

TRAVEL 0.25 MILE WEST OF DEWEY, MT ON HIGHWAY 43, THEN SOUTH
ON QUARTZ HILL GULCH ROAD, EAST AND WEST OF THE ROAD FOR 1.5
MILES.

Element occurrence data:

CA. 7,300 PLANTS IN 8 SUBPOPULATIONS; FRUITING.

General site description:

CALC-SILICATE ROCKY OUTCROPS AND HILLSIDES; BENEATH
JUNIPERUS SCOPULORUM AND PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII, WITH
CERCOCARPUS LEDIFOLIUS AND DRABA NIVALIS.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: DILLON RESOURCE AREA, BUTTE DISTRICT

BEAVERHEAD NATIONAL FOREST, WISE RIVER RANGER DISTRICT

Information source;

SCHASSBERGER, L.A. 1988. FIELD SURVEY, SOUTHWEST MONTANA,
1-3, 6-7 AND 13-15 JUNE.

Element Occurrence Record - Arabis fecunda
Montana Natural Heritage Program

ARABIS FECUNDA
SAPPHIRE ROCKCRESS

24

Element occurrence code; PDBRA06290. 007

Global rank; G2 Forest Service status; WATCH LIST

State rank; S2

Survey site name; JERRY CREEK
County; Silver Bow

USGS quadrangle; WISE RIVER

Township-range; OOINOIOW Section; 31 SW4
Township-range comments; TIN RllW;Sec 36 SE4

Survey date; 1988-06-07 Elevation; 5700

First observation; 1988 Slope/aspect;

Last observation; 1988-06-07 Size (acres) ; 30

Location;

CA. 1.5 MILES EAST OF WISE RIVER, MT, ON HIGHWAY 43, NE ON
JERRY CREEK ROAD 0.3 MILE; HILLSIDES AND OUTCROPS EAST OF
ROAD.

Element occurrence data;

CA. 5,050 PLANTS IN 2 SUBPOPULATIONS, FLOWERING AND FRUIT¬
ING; THREATENED BY OVERGRAZING.

General site description;

ON CALC-SILICATE OUTCROPS & HILLSIDES IN OPEN SOILS, BENEATH
JUNIPERUS SCOPULORUM AND PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII, WITH
CERCOCARPUS LEDIFOLIUS AND ERIGERON COMPOSITUS.

Land owner/manager;

BLM; HEADWATERS RESOURCE AREA, BUTTE DISTRICT
STATE LAND - UNDESIGNATED

Information source;

SCHASSBERGER, L.A. 1988. FIELD SURVEY IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA,
1-3, 6-7 AND 13-15 JUNE.

Element Occurrence Record - Arab is fecunda
Montana Natural Heritage Program

ARABIS FECUNDA
SAPPHIRE ROCKCRESS

25

Element occurrence code; PDBRA06290 . 008

Global rank: G2 Forest Service status: WATCH LIST

State rank: S2

Survey site name: UPPER QUARTZ HILL GULCH
County : Beaverhead

USGS quadrangle: VIPOND PARK

CATTLE GULCH

Township-range: OOlSOlOW Section: 19 SE4

Township-range comments: Sec 20 SW4; Sec 29 NW4; Sec 30 NE4.

Survey date: 1988-06-07 Elevation: 7500

First observation: 1988 Slope/aspect:

Last observation; 1988-06-07 Size (acres) : 40

Location:

CA. 3.75 MILES SOUTH OF DEWEY, MT, ALONG QUARTZ HILL GULCH
ROAD, CA. 0.2 MILE SW OF ROAD,

Element occurrence data:

CA. 75-100 PLANTS, FLOWERING AND FRUITING. SCATTERED PLANTS,
USUALLY ON EXPOSED OUTCROPS.

General site description:

ON CALC-SILICATE ROCKY OUTCROPS AND HILLSIDES; BENEATH
PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII, WITH CERCOCARPUS LEDIFOLIUS AND DRABA
NIVALIS .

Land owner/manager:

BEAVERHEAD NATIONAL FOREST, WISE RIVER RANGER DISTRICT
Information source;

SCHASSBERGER, L.A. 1988. FIELD SURVEY OF SOUTHWESTERN
MONTANA, 1-2, 6-7 AND 13-15 JUNE.

Element Occurrence Record - Arab is fecunda
Montana Natural Heritage Program

ARABIS FECUNDA
SAPPHIRE ROCKCRESS

26

Element occurrence code: PDBRA06290. 009

Global rank: G2 Forest Service status: WATCH LIST

State rank: S2

Survey site name: SPRING GULCH II
County : Beaverhead

USGS quadrangle: WISE RIVER

Township-range: OOlSOllW Section: 01

Township-range comments: SE4

Survey date:
First observation:
Last observation:

1988-06-07

1988

1988-06-07

Elevation: 5600

Slope/aspect:

Size (acres) : 10

Location:

CA. 2.2 MILES EAST OF WISE RIVER, MT, ON HIGHWAY 43. AT
BEND, 0.20 MILE SOUTH OF ROAD, ATOP STEEP CLIFFS.

Element occurrence data:

CA. 100-200 PLANTS, FRUITING; SPARSELY DISTRIBUTED.

General site description:

ON CALC-SILICATE ROCKY OUTCROPS, BENEATH JUNIPERUS SCOPULORUM
AND PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII, WITH CERCOCARPUS LEDIFOLIUS.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: DILLON RESOURCE AREA, BUTTE DISTRICT

Information source:

SCHASSBERGER, L.A. 1988. FIELD SURVEY, SOUTHWEST MONTANA,
1-3, 6-7 AND 13-15 JUNE.

Element Occurrence Record - Arabis fecunda
Montana Natural Heritage Program

ARABIS FECUNDA
SAPPHIRE ROCKCRESS

27

Element occurrence code: PDBRA06290. 010

Global rank; G2 Forest Service status: WATCH LIST

State rank: S2

Survey site name: WISE RIVER
County: Silver Bow

USGS quadrangle: WISE RIVER

DEWEY

Township-range; OOlSOlOW Section: 06 NE4NE4
Township-range comments; Sec 5 NW4NW4

Survey date; 1988-06-07 Elevation: 5600

First observation: 1988 Slope/aspect:

Last observation: 1988-06-07 Size (acres) : 1

Location:

1.0 MILE WEST OF DEWEY, MT, ON HIGHWAY 43, 0.33 MILE NORTH OF
ROAD ON THE NORTH SIDE OF WISE RIVER.

Element occurrence data:

CA. 100+ PLANTS, FRUITING.

General site description:

ON CALC-SILICATE ROCKY OUTCROPS AND SOILS, BENEATH JUNIPERUS
SCOPULORUM AND PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII, WITH CERCOCARPUS
LEDIFOLIUS .

Land owner/manager:

BLM: HEADWATERS RESOURCE AREA, BUTTE DISTRICT
PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

Information source:

SCHASSBERGER, L.A. 1988. FIELD SURVEY OF SOUTHWEST MONTANA,
1-3, 6-7 AND 13-15 JUNE.

Element Occurrence Record - Arab is fecunda
Montana Natural Heritage Program

28

ARABIS FECUNDA
SAPPHIRE ROCKCRESS

Element occurrence code: PDBRA06290. Oil

Global rank: G2 Forest Service status: WATCH LIST

State rank: S2

Survey site name: CANYON CREEK
County: Beaverhead

USGS quadrangle: CATTLE GULCH

VI POND PARK

Township-range: 002S010W Section: 08 N2

Township-range comments: Sec 5 S2, Sec 6 SE4, Sec 7 NE4

Survey date:
First observation:
Last observation:

1988- 06-13
1988

1989- 06-16

Elevation: 7000

Slope/aspect: 3-35%+/ S,SW,SE

Size (acres) : 200

Location:

PIONEER MOUNTAINS, CANYON CREEK AND VIPOND CREEK DRAINAGES,
CA. 12 MILES WEST OF MELROSE, MT, ALONG CANYON CREEK ROAD
(BEAVERHEAD N.F. RD. #187); ON SLOPES ABOVE OLD KILNS, AND
ABOVE VIPOND CREEK. '

Element occurrence data:

CA. 10,000+ FLOWERING PLANTS IN 3 SUBPOPULATIONS; FLOWERING
AND FRUITING OVER A LARGE AREA.

General site description:

ON ROCKY CALC-SILICATE SLOPES, BENEATH PINUS FLEXILIS AND
PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII, WITH ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA, A.
FRIGIDA, ERIGERON COMPOSITUS, CERCOCARPUS LEDIFOLIUS
AGROPYRON SPICATUM, PINUS CONTORTA AND POTENTILLA FRUTICOSA

Land owner/manager:

BEAVERHEAD NATIONAL FOREST, WISE RIVER RANGER DISTRICT

Information source:

SCHASSBERGER, L.A. 1988 FIELD SURVEY, SOUTHWEST MONTANA
1-3, 6-7 AND 13-15 JUNE. '

Element Occurrence Record - Arabis fecunda
Montana Natural Heritage Program

ARABIS FECUNDA
SAPPHIRE ROCKCRESS

29

Element occurrence code: PDBRA06290. 012

Global rank: G2 Forest Service status: WATCH LIST

State rank: S2

Survey site name: LIME GULCH
County: Beaverhead

USGS quadrangle: TWIN ADAMS MOUNTAIN

Township-range: 005S010W Section: 14 W2

Township-range comments: Sec 15 SE4

Survey date: 1988-06-15 Elevation: 6200

First observation: 1988 Slope/aspect: - / east, west

Last observation: 1988-06-15 Size (acres) : 80

Location:

5 MILES WEST OF INTERSTATE- 15 , UP BIRCH CREEK ROAD. NORTH OF
ROAD, ON EAST AND WEST FACES OF LIME GULCH.

Element occurrence data:

CA. 10,000+ PLANTS, FRUITING. OLD MINING ACTIVITY IN AREA.
General site description:

CALC-SILICATE ROCK OUTCROPS AND HILLSIDES, BENEATH JUNIPERUS
SCOPULORUM, WITH CERCOCARPUS LEDIFOLIUS, SENECIO CANUS AND
ERIGERON COMPOSITUS.

Land owner/manager:

BEAVERHEAD NATIONAL FOREST, WISE RIVER RANGER DISTRICT
Information source:

SCHASSBERGER, L.A. 1988. FIELD SURVEY, SOUTHWEST MONTANA,

1-3, 6-7 AND 13-15 JUNE.

Element Occurrence Record - Arab is fecunda
Montana Natural Heritage Program

ARABIS FECUNDA
SAPPHIRE ROCKCRESS

30

Element occurrence code; PDBRA06290. 013

Global rank: G2 Forest Service status: WATCH LIST

State rank; S2

Survey site name: CATTLE GULCH
County ; Beaverhead

USGS quadrangle: CATTLE GULCH

Township-range; 002S010W Section:

Township-range comments: Sec 2 NE4:

Survey date; 1989-06-07
First observation: 1989
Last observation: 1989-06-07

Location;

PIONEER MOUNTAINS, CATTLE GULCH,

NORTHWEST OF CONFLUENCE OF CATTLE GULCH AND CANYON CREEK,

CA. 7 AIR MILES NORTHWEST OF MELROSE, MT.

Element occurrence data:

127 PLANTS COUNTED (84 FLOWERING, 43 STERILE); FOUR
SUBPOPULATIONS; SLOPES LARGELY UNDISTURBED, ALTHOUGH THERE
HAS BEEN SOME PAST GRAZING IN THE BOTTOM OF CATTLE GULCH.

General site description:

IN DRY, GRAVELLY CALCAREOUS SOILS ON STEEP SLOPES;

CERCOCARPUS LEDIFOLIUS/AGROPYRON SPICATUM TYPE, WITH
ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA, PHYSARIA GEYERI, LINUM PERENNE, SENECIO
CANUS, GUTIERREZIA SAROTHRAE, CYMOPTERUS BIPINNATUS, AND OPUNTIA
POLYACANTHA.

Land owner/manager :

BEAVERHEAD NATIONAL FOREST, WISE RIVER RANGER DISTRICT
Information source:

SHELLY, J.S. 1989. FIELD SURVEYS IN BEAVERHEAD COUNTY, 5-9
JUNE.

01 NW4, NE4SW4

TIS RlOW, Sec 36 SW4

Elevation: 6200

Slope/aspect: 15-35%/S, SW

Size (acres) : 160

1.0-1.65 AIR MILES

Element Occurrence Record - Arabis fecunda
Montana Natural Heritage Program

uses Corvallis (left) and Willow Mountian (right) (7.5')
quadrangles .

Birch Creek Bluffs (004)

Arabis fecunda

uses Dewey (7.5') Quadrangle.

Mouth of Quartz Hill Gulch (006)

uses Wise River (left) and Dewy (right) (7.5') quadrangles

Mouth of Jerry Creek (007)
Spring Gulch il (009)

Wise River (010)

Arabis fecunda

uses Twin Adams Mountain (7.5') Quadrangle.

Lime Gulch (012)

Arabis fecunda

uses Cattle Gulch (7.5') Quadrangle.

Cattle Gulch (013)

PHOTOGRAPHS

40

41

Arabis fecunda -

B

habit

42

C. Arabis fecunda - flower.

43

D.

Arabis fecunda

habitat ,

Beaverhead N.F..

44

E.

Arabia fecunda

transect ,

Beaver'head, N.F.

Lime Gulch (012)

APPENDIX A

DEMOGRAPHIC MONITORING OF ARABIS FECUNDA
IN THE PIONEER RANGE

1989 ESTABLISHMENT REPORT

Peter Lesica
The Nature Conservancy
Montana Field Office
P.O. Box 258
Helena, Mt 59624

and

J. Stephen Shelly
Montana Natural Heritage Program
State Library Building
1515 E. 6th Ave.

Helena, MT 59620

December 1989

INTRODUCTION

In order to adequately protect populations of an organism,
it is necessary to understand its life history and population
dynamics (Massey and Whitson 1980, Sutter 1986, Palmer 1987). In
addition, many rare species are threatened by interactions with
non-native species that have been introduced into their habitat
(Drake 1988) . It is important to understand the nature of these
interactions in order to protect populations of rare species from
extinction.

Sapphire rockcress (Arabis fecunda Rollins) is a rosette¬
forming perennial in the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae) . This
recently described species (Rollins 1984) is endemic to highly
calcareous, azonal soils in the foothills of the Sapphire Range
in Ravalli County, and in the Pioneer Range in Beaverhead and
Silver Bow counties, Montana (Lesica 1985, Schassberger 1988) .
■^^sbis fecunda generally occurs on steep, often eroding slopes
with low vascular plant density. In Ravalli County, populations
of A. fecunda are thought to be threatened by livestock grazing
and encroachment by an aggressive exotic weed, spotted knapweed
(Centaurea maculosa) (Lesica 1985, Schassberger 1988) , In Silver
Bow and Beaverhead counties, populations may be threatened by
mining activity and livestock grazing.

This report documents the establishment of demographic
monitoring transects for Arabis fecunda at two sites in the
Pioneer Range, on Beaverhead National Forest lands.

STUDY SITES

I • Lime Gulch

Location: Five miles west of Interstate Highway 15, on the
north side of Birch Creek Road, approximately 1/4
mile up Lime Gulch from the road; T5S RlOW Sec 14;
ca. 6,200 ft elevation.

a. South Transect

Location: East-facing slope on the west side of the gulch,
ca. 20 m up from the bottom. 98 degrees from the
start pin to the summit of Limestone Mountain; 204
degrees to the summit of the grassy mountain south
of Birch Creek Road. The start pin is next to an
old juniper stump.

Line bearing: 21 degrees
Slope: 16 degrees

1

Aspect: 165 degrees

Instructions: Read transect south to north,

b . North Transect

Location: West-facing slope on the east side of the gulch,
ca . 5 in above the bottom. 209 degrees from start
pin to the summit of the bald hill with patches of
trees; 17 degrees to the base of the Douglas fir
snag near the bottom of the gulch.

Line bearing: 178 degrees

Slope: 22 degrees

Aspect: 274 degrees

Instructions: Read transect north to south.

II • Canyon Creek

Location: Approximately 12.5 miles west of Melrose on the
Canyon Creek Road, at the corner of the road
overlooking the kilns; T2S lOW Sec 8; 7,200 ft
elevation.

a. West Transect

Location: Moderate, south-facing slope. 162 degrees from
the start pin to the southwest -most kiln; 227
degrees to the junction of the guard station road.

Line bearing: 110 degrees

Slope: 31 degrees

Aspect: 205 degrees

Instructions: Read transect west to east.

b. East Transect

Location: Moderate, south-facing slope. 178 degrees from
the start pin to southwest-most kiln; 48 degrees
to wooden platform.

Line bearing: 96 degrees

Slope: 30 degrees

3

Aspect: 180 degrees

Instructions: Read transect west to east.

METHODS

On June 15 (Lime Gulch) and 16 (Canyon Creek) , we
established two permanent belt transects of 12 adjacent m^ plots
at each site, following the methods outlined in Lesica (1987) .

The start and end points of each transect were marked by a
section of reinforcing bar driven into the ground and painted
orange. Individual A. fecunda plants were mapped and recorded
using the following system:

S - Seedling (rosette less than 15 mm diameter)

R - indicates the number of rosettes (> 15 mm diameter) per
plant

I — indicates the total number of inflorescences (stems)
per plant

F - indicates the total number of fruits produced by the
plant

Thus, a plant with two rosettes, three stems and a total of nine
fruits would be recorded as R1-I3-F9. In cases where plants had
not finished blooming, two flowers or flower buds were recorded
as one fruit. Since a first year plant can bloom and set fruit
(Lesica and Shelly, personal observation), the above system
describes size rather than age classes.

At each site, we located 25 randomly-chosen plants outside
of the transects, and picked one fruit from each. We dissected
each fruit, and recorded the number of viable-appearing seeds in
each.

Many of the plants at Canyon Creek were still flowering when
we read the transects; thus we recommend that this transect be
read in late June or early July.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A summary of the data collected in 1989 is presented in
Table 1. All plants were mapped and scored to size class within
each of the four transects. Fecundity was much greater in the
Canyon Creek population than the Lime Gulch population. Also,
the Canyon Creek population had a higher percentage of plants
with more than one rosette. The Lime Gulch population is ca.
1,000 ft lower in elevation and in the rain shadow of the Pioneer
Mountains. The differences in fecundity could be an artifact of

4

sainpling on consecutive days at sites which have very different
microclimates, i.e., the phenology of the two populations may not
be the same. The reason (s) for the difference in rosette number
is unknown.

5

Table 1. Population density and fecundity data for Arabis

fecunda in long-term monitoring transects, Beaverhead
National Forest, 1989.

Canvon Creek

Lime Gulch

Density (plants/m^j

15.8

15.4

# plants fruiting

95

6

% plants fruiting

25.1%

1.6%

# fruits per
fruiting plant

10.8

3.2

# fruits per
inflorescence

5.5

1.7

% plants with more
than one rosette

20.3%

12.2%

% one-rosette plants
with fruit

23.8%

0.9%

% multi-rosette plants
with fruit

29.9%

6.7%

Seeds per fruit

34.2+10.5

31.1+5.6

6

LITERATURE CITED

Drake, J. A. 1988. Biological invasions into nature reserves.
Trends in Ecology and Evolution 3: 186-187.

Lesica, P. 1985. Report on the conservation status of Arabis

f ecunda , a potential candidate species. Unpublished report
to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered
Species, Denver, CO.

Lesica, P. 1987. A technique for monitoring nonrhizomatous,
perennial plant species in permanent belt transects.

Natural Areas Journal 7: 65-68.

Massey, J. R. and P. D. Whitson. 1980. Species biology, the key
to plant preservation. Rhodora 82: 97-103.

Palmer, M. E. 1987. A critical look at rare plant monitoring in
the United State. Biological Conservation 39: 113-127.

Roliius, R. C. 1984. Studies in the Cruciferae of western North
America II. Contr. Gray Herb. 214: 1-18.

Schassberger, L. A. 1988. Update to the report on the
conservation status of Arabis f ecunda . a candidate
threatened species. Unpublished report to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered Species, Denver, CO.
36 pp.

Sutter, R. D. 1986. Monitoring rare plant species and natural
areas - ensuring the protection of our investment. Natural
Areas Journal 6: 3-5.